Comparison of the empathy deficits for male adolescents with different types of conduct disorder / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the empathy deficits of adolescents with different types of conduct disorder. Methods The participants included 65 adolescents ( who met the DSM-Ⅳ criteria for conduct disorder)ranging from 13 ～ 18 in age,and 195 normal adolescents ranging from 13 ～ 18 in age. All participants were assessed by revised Basic Empathy Scale. 65 patients were divided into 4 subgroups according to symptoms destructive-nondestructive subgroups and overt-covert subgroups. Results (1) Scores of cognitive empathy were lower in patients than normal controls ( (29.86 ± 4.72) vs ( 32.09 ± 4.94), P ＜ 0. 01 ). (2) There were significant differences in the levels of cognitive empathy between patients and controls (P＜0. 01 ). Scores of cognitive empathy were lower in destructive subgroup than controls ( (29.76 ± 4.46) vs ( 32.09 ± 4.94) , P ＜ 0.01 ). (3) There were significant differences in the levels of two dimensions and total scores of empathy between patients and controls (F=3.10 ～5.36, P ＜ 0.05 ). Scores of cognitive empathy were lower in overt subgroup ( 29.22 ± 3.77 ) and covert subgroup (30.21 ± 5.17 ) than controls (32.09 ± 4.94) (P＜ 0.05, P＜0.01 );and scores of affective empathy were lower in overt subgroup than covert subgroup ( (26.13 ±5.05) vs (29.50 ±4.16), P＜0.05 ). Total scores of empathy were lower in overt subgroup (55.35 ±7.09) than covert subgroup (59.71 ±7.58) and controls (60.04 ±8.50 ) (P＜0.05). (4) Logistic regression analysis showed that cognitive empathy was a protective factor for conduct disorders( OR = 0.43 ). Conclusion The cognitive empathy level of patients is significantly lower than normal students;and boys with different types of conduct disorder possess different empathic abilities when compared with healthy controls;and cognitive empathy is a protective factor for conduct disorder.